Roll pass for tubing or the like



Oct. 24, 1967 w. w. BARTLEY ROLL PASS FOR TUB ING OR THE LIKE 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 2, 1964 mW L M Z www Oct. 24, 1967 w. w.BARTLEY 3,348,403

ROLL PASS FOR TUBING OR THE LIKE Y I Filed Nov. 2, 1964 5 heets-Sheet 222/ Kg! 4a I? 11 INVENTOR. 12 VghLUAM WBARTLET A Tram/ 5 Filed Nov. 2,1964 Oct. 24, 1967 w, w, BARTLEY 3,348,403

ROLL PASS FOR TUBING OR THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 W. W. BARTLEY ROLLPASS FOR TUBING OR THE LIKE Get 24, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 2,1964 INVENTOR W1 LUAM W- BARTLEY A Tram/(w W. W. BARTLEY ROLL PASS FORTUBING OR THE LIKE Oct. 24, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. '2, 1964United States Patent 3,348,403 ROLL PASS FOR TUBING OR THE LIKE WilliamW. Bartley, New Castle, Pa., assignor to The McKay Machine Company,Youngstown, Ohio Filed Nov. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 408,237 15 Claims. (Cl.72-237) The present invention relates to a mill roll pass, moreparticularly to a roll pass for a tube mill, and the principal object ofthe invention is to provide new improved passes of the characterdescribed.

The design of roll passes for high-speed tubing mills presentsspecialized problems in that frequent roll changing requires the rollsbe cantilever mounted; i.e. mounted at one end of their supportingshafts, to facilitate roll removal and replacement. Since high-speedtubing mill rolls are frequently ground at regular intervals to presentan accurate working surface and since such grinding results in the rollsprogressively becoming smaller in diameter, means must be provided toquickly and accurately move the rolls toward and away from each other,without shifting the pass line of the tubing, to provide a properlysized pass for the latter. Roll movement toward and away from each othermust also be provided for the purpose of accommodating tubing of variousoutside diameters. Finally, since rolls of the type herein contemplatedhave contoured working faces which must be aligned with each other,means must he provided to axially and relatively shift the rolls toeffectuate such alignment.

The present invention solves the problems previously mentioned in ahighly effective manner and these and other advantages will becomeapparent from a study of the following description and from the drawingappended hereto.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part ofthis application there is shown, for purpose of illustration, anembodiment which the invention may assume, and in these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, broken perspective view of apparatusembodying the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a view, partially in section, generally corresponding to theline 2-2 of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 3, drawn to a smaller scale, and FIGURES 4, and 6 are sectionalviews generally corresponding to respective lines 33, 4-4, 5-5 and 66 ofFIGURE 2.

With respect to FIGURE 1, there is rather diagrammatically illustrated amachine base 10 having a transversely projecting portion 11 whichoverhangs a pass line X along which tubing T and the like moveslongitudinally. Supported beneath the base portion 11 are a plurality ofroll passes 12 through which a piece of tubing T progressively travels.Each roll pass may be formed of a pair of rolls 13, 13.1 mounted inside-by-side relation for rotation on shafts 15, 15.1, respectively, therotational axes of alternate passes preferably being disposed normal toeach other..Since the roll passes 12 are preferably identical, with thepossible exception that the rolls of each pass may differ slightly fromeach other, a detailed description of but one roll pass will besufficient.

Turning now to FIGURE 2, it will be noted that while all of the partsassociated with shaft 15 have been shown in section, most of thecorresponding parts associated with shaft 15.1 and carrying the samereference number but with the suflix .1, are shown in elevation in theinterest of simplicity and clarity. Such corresponding parts, however,are identical and thus a detailed description of only the partsassociated with shaft 15 is necessary.

Shaft 15 is rotatably mounted within a sleeve 16 by axially spaced,anti-friction bearings 17, 18 of conven- Patented Oct. 24, 1967 tionalroller or ball type. A tubular spacer 19 maintains the hearings in theproper spaced relationship. The lower, projecting portion of shaft 15has a tapered portion 20 on which the previously mentioned working roll13 is mounted by means of a tapered sleeve 120. A nut 21 is threaded onthe shaft 15 and removably holds the roll 13 thereon.

Sleeve 16 is rigidly supported in the housing part 11 for both rotationand axial movement by means later to be disclosed and, with referencealso to FIGURE 3, the bore of sleeve 16 in which shaft 15 is mounted iseccentric to the outside diameter of the sleeve so that rotation of thehereinafter to be referred to ec-cenric sleeve 16 effects transversemovement of the shaft 15. Rotatably mounted on the upper (in theposition of parts shown) end of the eccentric sleeve 16 is an externallythreaded sleeve 22 having an inwardly directed annular flange 23. Ananti-friction thrust bearing 24 is inter-posed between the sleeve flange23 and a shoulder on eccentric sleeve 16 while a similar thrust bearing25 is disposed on the other side of the sleeve flange 23. A cap member26 is bolted to the end of the eccentric sleeve 16 and clamps to thelatter, the externally threaded sleeve 22 and the thrust bearings 24,25. A suitable anti-friction bearing 27 may be interposed between thecap member 26 and the adjoining portion of the shaft 15. For a purposeto appear, the upper portion of externally threaded sleeve 22 isprovided with external, longitudinally extending rectilinear splines 28.

Closely receivable in a bore at the upper end of base portion 11 is aninternally threaded nut member 29 secured to portion 11 by means ofscrews 30 or the like. The lower portion of nut member 11 abuts a wormgear 31 which encircles the eccentric sleeve 16 and maintains such gearagainst a shoulder 32. For a purpose to appear, gear 31 is engaged withlongitudinally extending, rectilinear splines 33 formed on the exteriorof the eccentric sleeve 16.

As previously mentioned, externally threaded sleeve 22 is threaded inthe nut member 29 and, threaded on the threaded sleeve 22, is a wormgear 34. As herein shown, gear 34 abuts the nut member 29 and functionslike a jam nut to lock the externally threaded sleeve 22 to the nutmembers.

Disposed above the gear 34 and engaged with the splines 28 of theexternally threaded sleeve 22 is a worm gear 35 confined against axialmovement by flanges 36 formed in a housing member 37 which is bolted tothe base part 11 and through which both shafts 15, 15.1 project.

Turning now to FIGURE 4, an adjusting shaft 38 extends transversely ofthe shafts 15, 15.1 and has worms 39, 39.1 keyed or otherwise afiixedthereto. Worm 39 is engaged with worm gear 31 while worm 39.1 is engagedwith worm gear 31.1, the arrangement being such that when shaft 38 isrotated by a suitable handwheel or the like (not shown), the worm gears31, 31.1 together with their eccentric sleeves 16, 16.1 will be rotatedsimultaneously. For reasons to be seen, the gears and their Worms are sochosen that rotation of shaft 38 in one direction effects rotation ofworm gear 31 in a clockwise direction and worm gear 31.1 in acounter-clockwise direction. Obviously, rotation of shaft 38 in theopposite direction reverses the direction of rotation of worm gears 31,31.1.

With reference to FIGURE 6, housing 37 rotatably supports shafts 40,40.1 on opposite sides of the shafts 15, 15.1. Shaft 40 has a worm 41keyed or otherwise secured thereto and engaged with the worm gear 35while the shaft 40.1 has a worm 41.1 engaged with the worm gear 35.1.The arrangement is such that rotation of shaft 40 will effect rotationof worm gear 35 and consequent 3 rotation of the externally threadedsleeve 22. Similarly, rotation of the shaft 40.1 will effect rotation ofthe worm gear 35.1 and its externally threaded sleeve 22.1.

An identical arrangement to that above-described with respect toworm'gears 35, 35.1 is provided for the worm gear 34, 34.1. Thus, thehousing 37 rotatably supports a shaft 42 directly beneath shaft 40 and ashaft.42.1 directly beneath the shaft 40.1. Shaft 42 will carry a wormengaged with the worm gear 34 while shaft 42.1 will carry a. wormengaged with ,the worm gear 34.1. Clearly, rotation of the shafts 42,42.1 will respectively effect rotation of' the worm gears 34, 34.1.Although not shown, all of the shafts 38, 40, 40.1, 42 and 42.1 may beprovided with suitable handwheels or the like to facilitate rotationthereof.

Means are provided for retaining the eccentric sleeves against movementand, as best seen in FIGURE 5, such means comprises a pair of opposedblocks 43, 44 on a rotatably supported rod 45. The blocks 43, 44 havearcuate surfaces complementary with the exterior of the eccentric sleevemembers, such blocks functioning as wedges as will appear. Block 43 isseated against a shoulder 46 on the rod 45, the rod being freelyrotatable within such block. On the other hand, block 44 is internallythreaded to cooperate with a threaded portion 47 of the rod 45 and acompression spring 48 encircles the rod between the two blocks andexerts a force yieldably urging the blocks away from each other.Floating axially on a splined portion 49 of the rod 45 is a miter gear50 which meshes with a miter gear 51 carried by a shaft 52 rotatablymounted in the base portion 11.

. In the position of parts seen in FIGURE 2, eccentric sleeves 16, 16.1are so disposed that shafts 15, 15.1 are in their most closely spacedposition and are, at the same time, both in their most elevatedpositions. As will next be described, however, it is possible tosimultaneously shift the shafts 15, 15.1 transversely away from eachother (see also FIGURE 3) so that the rolls 13, 13.1 carried thereby arein respective, transversely off-set phantomline positions from thefull-line positions shown. It is also possible to individually shift theshafts 15, 15.1 axially so that their rolls 13, 13.1 are in respectiveaxially offset phantom-line positions from the full-line positionsshown.

When it is desired to shift the shafts 15, 15.1 transversely, rod 45will be rotated by means of shaft 52 (see FIGURE 5) in a direction topermit spring 48 to separate the blocks 43, 44 and shift them out ofwedging engagement with the eccentric sleeves 16, 16.1. With the blocksthus disengaged from the sleeves, shaft 38 (FIG- URES 2 and 4) may berotated to simultaneously rotate the worm gears 31, 31.1 and thus rotaterespective eccentric sleeves 16, 16.1. When the shafts 15, 15.1 aretransversely positioned as required, shaft 52 will again be rotated todraw the blocks 43, 44 toward each other to wedging engagement with theeccentric sleeves 16, 16.1 to thus lock the latter against movement fromtheir selected positions.

When, for example, the shaft 15 is to be axially shifted, the blocks 43,44 will be separated to release .both eccentric sleeves a previouslymentioned and the shaft 42 (FIGURE 2) will be rotated toshift the wormgear 34 away from the nut member 29. Shaft 40 will next be rotated torotate the worm gear 35 (see also FIGURE 6) to in turn rotate thethreaded sleeve 22 within the nut member 29 thus effecting axialmovement of the threaded sleeve and consequently that of the eccentricsleeve 16 together with its shaft 15. Upon the desired axialpositionment of the shaft 15, worm gear 34 will once again be rotated toabut the nut member 29 thus locking the threaded sleeve 22, theeccentric sleeve 16 and the shaft 15 against axial movement. Also, theblocks 43, 44 will again be wedged against the eccentric sleeves 16,16.1 to further hold them in position by rotation of the shaft 52 aspreviously described.

Obviously, in the event it is desired to effect axial movement of theshaft 15.1, this will be effected in a manner similar to thathereinabove described but by rotating the worm gears 34.1 and 35.1.

In view of the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat I have accomplished at least the principal object of my inventionand it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that theembodiment herein described may be variously changed and modified,without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that theinvention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specificallydescribed; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosedembodiment is illustrative only, and that my invention is not limitedthereto.

I claim:

1. An improved mill for working longitudinally moving elongated stock,comprising a pair of rolls which together form apass through which thestock is fed, moving means for simultaneously and equally adjusting therotational axes of said rolls toward and away from each other tomaintain a fixed position of the pass line for the stock while providingadjustment of the pass size, and locking means separate from said movingmeans for locking each of the rolls independently against movement oncethey are adjusted.

2. An improved mill for working longitudinally moving elongated stock,comprising a pair of rolls which together form a pass through which thestock is fed, an eccentric member supporting each roll for rotationabout an axis spaced laterally of the axis of its supporting member,means connecting said eccentric members together for simultaneous andequal rotation in opposite directions to thereby effect movement of saidroll axes toward and away from each other to maintain a fixed positionfor the pass line while providing adjustment of the pass size, means formoving said connecting means to provide for adjustment of the pass size,and locking means separate from said moving means for locking each ofthe eccentric members independently against movement once the pass hasbeen adjusted to a desired size.

3. The construction of claim 2 wherein each eccentric member issleeve-like, wherein each roll is mounted on a shaft, wherein eachshaftis rotatably supported in respective eccentric sleeve members, andwherein said locking means operates directly upon respective sleevemembers.

4. The construction of claim 3 wherein said eccentric sleeve members aremounted in a support, wherein one of the ends of said roil shaftsproject from said support to provide a cantilever mounting for saidrolls, and wherein the other ends of said roll shafts project from saidsupport for driving purposes.

5. The construction of claim 2 wherein said locking means comprisesopposed wedge members interposed between said eccentric sleeve membersand wherein means is provided to draw said wedge members toward eachother to Wedging engagement with said sleeve members for the purposeaforesaid.

6. The construction of claim 5 wherein resilient means urges said wedgemembers apart against the urging of said means drawing said wedgemembers toward each other.

7. A pass for longitudinally moving stock comprising a pair of rollsforming the stock pass, an eccentric member supporting each roll forrotation about an axis spaced laterally of the axis of its supportingeccentric member, a support in which said eccentric members are mountedfor both rotational and axial movement, means connecting said eccentricmembers together for simultaneous rotation about their axes to therebyeffect transverse movement of said roll axes toward and away from eachother while maintaining a fixedly positioned pass line for the stock,means for locking said eccentric members against rotation aforesaid tothus maintain said roll axes in preselected relation with each other,and means for effecting axial movement of said eccentric members.

8. The construction of claim 7 wherein said last-mentioned meansselectively eflfects axial movement of individual eccentric members.

9. The construction of claim 8 and further comprising means for lockingindividual eccentric members against axial movement aforesaid.

10. A pass for longitudinally moving stock comprising a pair of rollsforming the stock pass, an elongated shaft for each roll, an eccentricsleeve encircling respective shafts and each having an axis spacedlaterally of its shaft axis, each shaft being rotatably mounted in itssleeve 'but confined against relative movement axially thereof, asupport in which said sleeves are mounted in spaced, side-bysiderelation for both rotational and axial movement, means connecting saideccentric sleeves together for simultaneous rotation about their axes tothereby effect transverse movement of said roll shafts axes toward andaway from each other while maintaining a fixedly positioned pass linefor the stock, means for locking said eccentric sleeves against rotationaforesaid to thus maintain said roll axes in preselected relation witheach other, means for effecting axial movement of said eccentricsleeves, and means for locking said eccentric sleeves against axialmovement aforesaid.

11. The construction of claim 10 wherein a pair of gears have splineconnection with respective sleeves to provide for simultaneous rotationof a sleeve with its gear but to provide for relative axial movementtherebetween, wherein a rotatably mounted adjusting shaft extendstransversely of said eccentric sleeves, and wherein said adjusting shaftmounts gear means operably engaged with respective eccentric sleevegears aforesaid to connect said sleeves together for said simultaneousrotation.

12. The construction of claim 10 wherein each sleeve has a collarrotatably mounted thereon, wherein each sleeve and its collar areconnected against relative axial movement, and wherein said collar hasthreaded connection with said support to provide for axial movement ofsaid collar together with axial movement of its sleeve upon collarrotation.

13. The construction of claim 12 wherein a pair of gears have splineconnection with respective collars to provide for simultaneous rotationof a collar with its gear but to provide for relative axial movementtherebetween, and gear means operably engaged with said gears to effectrotation thereof.

14. A pass for longitudinally moving stock comprising a pair of rollsforming the stock pass, an elongated shaft for each roll, an eccentricsleeve encircling respective shafts and each having an axis spacedlaterally of its shaft axis, each shaft being rotatably mounted in itssleeve but being confined against relative movement axially thereof, asupport in which said sleeves are mounted in spaced, side-by-siderelation for both rotational and axial movement, a first pair of gearshaving spline connection with respective sleeves to provide forsimultaneous rotation of a sleeve with its gear but to provide forrelative axial movement therebetween, a rotatably mounted adjustingshaft extending transversely of said eccentric sleeves and mountingfirst gear means operably engaged with respective gears of said firstgear pair, said adjusting shaft and said first gears and gear meansconnecting said eccentric sleeves together for simultaneous rotationabout their axes to thereby effect transverse movement of said rollshafts axes toward and away from each other while maintaining a fixedlypositioned pass line for the stock, opposed wedge members interposedbetween said eccentric sleeves, means for drawing said wedge memberstoward each other to wedging engagement with said sleeves for lockingthe latter against rotation aforesaid to thus maintain said roll axes inpreselected relation with each other, a collar rotatably mounted on eachsleeve and the latter and its collar being connected against relativeaxial movement, said collar having threaded connection with said supportto provide for axial movement of said collar together with axialmovement of its sleeve upon collar rotation, a second pair of gearshaving spline connection with respective collars to provide forsimultaneous rotation of a collar with its gear but to provide forrelative axial movement therebetween, second gear means operably engagedwith respective gears of said second gear pair to effect rotationthereof and consequent axial movement of said eccentric sleeves, andmeans for locking said collars and consequently said eccentric sleevesagainst axial movement aforesaid.

15. The construction of claim 14 wherein said lastmentioned meanscomprises members threaded on respective collars to function like jarnnuts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 285,567 9/1883 Carter 56.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 550,252 5/1932 Germany.

875,467 6/1942 France.

FRANCIS, S. l-IUSAR, Primary Examiner.

1. AN IMPROVED MILL FOR WORKING LONGITUDINALLY MOVING ELONGATED STOCK,COMPRISING A PAIR OF ROLLS WHICH TOGETHER FORM A PASS THROUGH WHICH THESTOCK IS FED, MOVING MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY AND EQUALLY ADJUSTING THEROTATIONAL AXES OF SAID ROLLS TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER TOMAINTAIN A FIXED POSITION OF THE PASS LINE FOR THE STOCK